Cute Ways To Incorporate Your Kids Into Your Wedding

It’s no secret that millennials aren’t big on tradition, especially when it comes to timelines around getting married and having children. They’re turning things on their heads in many ways, and it can often be a good thing. Many people today are, for example, having kids before they get married. And I get it: they’d probably rather put those tens of thousands of dollars into building a family than into a big party. For a lot of couples today, the alternative would be blowing a bunch of money on a wedding, and then not being able to afford having kids for a long time. But, many of these couples still hope to tie the knot one day. They’ll just have their children at their wedding, which is actually kind of special if you ask me. If you’re one such couple, then you may appreciate these cute and fun ideas for incorporating your kids into your wedding.

Source: Buccina Studios / Getty

Writing vows to the kids

You’re writing vows to your partner about how you’ll be a good spouse, so why not also write vows to your children about how you’ll continue to be a wonderful parent? They are a part of this marriage, too. You probably have some promises you’d like to make to them about how this family will live and love one another.

Source: kate_sept2004 / Getty

Choreograph a family dance

When it’s time to hit the dance floor, you could have a choreographed dance prepared together, as a family. Just be ready for everyone to film it, and for the possibility it goes viral online because it’s so darn cute.

Source: Jorge Mario Anaini / EyeEm / Getty

Making them the ring bearers

Your children could be the ring bearers, which is quite an important job. Maybe they could make boxes themselves that they put the rings inside of, which will be cherished keepsakes for life.

Source: Bunlue Nantaprom / EyeEm / Getty

Letting them give a speech

Perhaps your children would like to say a few words. You can (and probably should) help them write and edit these speeches, but if your quirky aunt and estranged cousin get to say something, your kiddos should be able to, too.

Source: KidStock / Getty

Hand-fasting with a baby blanket

Hand-fasting is an ancient rural folkloric ritual symbolizing the union of two lives. It usually involves the binding of hands (the couple’s) with some sort of rope, but you could do this with your kid’s baby blanket or favorite t-shirt.

Source: Annie Marie Musselman / Getty

They can walk you down the aisle

Have your children walk you down the aisle. Even if you do have parents who’d like to do this, nobody said only one person can walk you to the altar. You can walk down the aisle as a family unit.

Source: FatCamera / Getty

Get them in the engagement photos

You can include the children early on in the wedding planning, too, by including them in the engagement photos. This ceremony has been about the whole family from the start, after all—about becoming more of a solid unit.

Source: Peter Dazeley / Getty

Have a family wedding topper

It doesn’t have to just be brides and grooms on the tops of cakes. You can order just about any kind of topper you want these days, including ones that represent each member of your family.

Source: supersizer / Getty

A parent/child first dance

If your kids aren’t up for the whole choreographed dance thing, you can always just do a parent/child dance at the top of the dance hour. You can have a mother/son dance with your son or your partner can have a father/daughter dance if you have a daughter.

Source: kali9 / Getty

Make them bridesmaids/groomsmen

Put them in the wedding party. It’ll be pretty adorable to see them in the same motif as the other bridesmaids or groomsmen. And they can stand next to you when you officially tie the knot.

Source: Blake Callahan / Getty

Have them make the seating cards, etc.

Your kids can do some arts and crafts for this wedding, creating the seating cards or centerpieces for the table. That’s an adorable way to add their signature touch all over the event.

Source: Milan_Jovic / Getty

Put them all over your website

If you have a wedding website, have your children on it. They can be the first image one sees on the homepage, or you can include cute photos of them pointing to things people need to click on like the registry or schedule.

Source: sturti / Getty

Ask if they’d like to perform

If your children enjoy a little spotlight, ask them if they’d like to perform. Maybe they want to sing a song, write an original song, or read a poem out loud.

Source: Serdar Acar / EyeEm / Getty

Make them the seat ushers

Have your children act as seat ushers (perhaps with a grownup’s help). It’s a fun way for every guest to interact with your kids before the exchanging of the vows.

Source: Anchiy / Getty

Create a signature food or drink for them

You can create a dessert or beverage based on your kid’s favorite items. Maybe they love Oreos, and you can have an Oreo wedding cake. Maybe they love fruit punch, so you can serve spiked punch for the adults.